Installing iPhone 4S Front Facing Camera

Replace a broken front facing camera on your iPhone 4S.

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Use this guide to replace a broken front facing camera.

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Rear Panel  ¶ 

  • Before disassembling your iPhone, be sure it is powered off.

  • Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the dock connector.

  • During reassembly, we recommend you replace the 5-point screws with equivalent Phillips screws. Our Liberation Kit provides the tools and screws needed to replace the Pentalobe screws with Phillips screws.

  • The 5-Point Screwdriver should only be used once, as it has the potential to strip the screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Push the rear panel toward the top edge of the iPhone.

  • The panel will move about 2 mm.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Pull the rear panel away from the back of the iPhone, being careful not to damage the plastic clips attached to the rear panel.

  • Remove the rear panel from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 4 — Battery  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws securing the battery connector to the logic board:

    • One 1.7 mm Phillips screw

    • One 1.5 mm Phillips screw

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use a pair of tweezers or an opening tool to remove the pressure contact near the battery connector.

  • When reinstalling the pressure contact, be sure to clean it with a degreaser such as windex or isopropyl alcohol. The oils on your fingers have the potential to create wireless interference.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Insert the edge of a plastic opening tool between the battery and the outer case near the bottom left corner of the iPhone.

  • Run the plastic opening tool along the right edge of the battery and pry up at several points to completely separate it from the adhesive securing it to the outer case.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Use the exposed clear plastic pull tab to peel the battery off the adhesive securing it to the iPhone.

  • Remove the battery.

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Add Note Edit Step 9 — Dock Connector Cable  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws securing the dock connector cable cover to the logic board:

    • One 1.5 mm Phillips screw

    • One 1.2 mm Phillips screw

  • Remove the metal dock connector cable cover.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the dock cable up from its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Peel the dock connector cable off the adhesive securing it to the logic board and the side of the speaker enclosure.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the Wi-Fi antenna cable up from its socket on the logic board.

  • De-route the Wi-Fi antenna cable out from under the metal fingers attached to the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 13 — Rear Camera  ¶ 

  • If necessary, use a pair of tweezers to remove the outer plastic ring located on top of the rear camera's flash assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Remove the following four screws securing the cable cover to the logic board:

    • One 2.7 mm Phillips screw

    • One 2.6 mm Phillips screw

    • One 1.3 mm Phillips screw

    • One 1.2 mm Phillips screw

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the cable cover tabs out of their slots cut into the EMI shield on the logic board.

  • Lift the cable cover from its edge nearest the top and remove it from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the rear camera connector up from its socket on the logic board.

  • Be careful not to break any components off the surrounding area on the logic board as you pry upwards.

  • Remove the rear camera from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 17 — SIM Card  ¶ 

  • Use a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip to eject the SIM card and its holder.

  • This may require a significant amount of force.

  • Remove the SIM card and its holder.

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Add Note Edit Step 18 — Logic Board  ¶ 

  • Remove the five cables near the top of the logic board in the following order:

    • Headphone jack/volume button cable

    • Front facing camera cable

    • Digitizer cable

    • Display data cable

    • Power button cable (located underneath the headphone jack/volume button cable as shown in the second picture.)

  • To disconnect the cables, use the edge of a plastic opening tool to gently lift their connectors up and out of the sockets on the logic board.

  • Be careful not to break any of the small and delicate surface mount components as you disconnect the cables.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Remove the 1.5 mm Phillips screw securing the grounding clip to the logic board near the headphone jack.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Lift the small grounding clip up off the logic board and remove it from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 21  ¶ 

  • Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the 4.8 mm standoff near the headphone jack.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to disconnect the wi-fi antenna from the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 23  ¶ 

  • If present, peel the piece of black tape covering the hidden screw near the power button.

  • Remove the 1.6 mm Phillips screw securing the logic board near the power button.

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Add Note Edit Step 24  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws securing the logic board to the case:

    • One 2.5 mm Phillips screw near the vibrator motor

    • One 2.4 mm Phillips screw

    • One 3.6 mm standoff along the side of the logic board nearest the battery opening.

  • Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the single 3.6 mm standoff.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Carefully lift the logic board from the end closest to the speaker enclosure and slide it away from the top edge of the iPhone.

  • Remove the logic board.

  • Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the logic board (not the mating halves of connectors) with a de-greaser such as windex or isopropyl alcohol. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause grounding issues.

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Add Note Edit Step 26  ¶ 

  • Be sure not to lose the small grounding finger for the rear facing camera near the power button.

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Add Note Edit Step 27 — Front Facing Camera  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to carefully pry the metal front facing camera retainer away from the case of your iPhone.

  • Remove the front facing camera retainer.

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Add Note Edit Step 28  ¶ 

  • Remove the front facing camera.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the iPhone 4S device page.

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